Revise now or try to get back on track with the band

[brittu 42]

Hi folks,

Here's my situation. I got a band in 2006 and did great for the first 18 months - lost about 75 pounds. A year ago I had a fill somewhere other than my doctor's office and plateaued then started gaining. A few weeks ago I found out I had a lot of inflammation and had an unfill at which time I also discovered that I'd lost saline from the cheap fill -- who knows, maybe I didn't have a real fill that whole time.

I went to another doctor who diagnosed a slip and pouch dilation. He recommends a VSG but insurance denied it. They say they don't cover VSG which I can fight because they do (Federal BCBS). And they also say my complication doesn't warrant band removal and that since I no longer am morbidly obese I don't qualify for revision (that's just stupid since I met all the qualifications and had coverage when I got the band).

I went back to the original surgeon who repeated the barium swallow and says if anything was wrong it was a very small pouch dilation which is now reverted. They gave me a very small fill with the idea that I could slowly return to restriction. I'm up about 30 pounds from my lowest weight and pretty upset about it.

At this point I could either try to make things work with the band OR move forward with a VSG revision, most likely self-pay with Dr. Aceves. But that's a lot of money and I worry that if I couldn't keep the weight off with a band I could just as easily be unsuccessful with a VSG.

I'd love some insight as to whether I ought to give the band some more time with proper physician visits, support group etc. Or if I ought to just scrap it and dig into my savings and get the VSG. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Britt

[serious 2]

Hi folks,

Here's my situation. I got a band in 2006 and did great for the first 18 months - lost about 75 pounds. A year ago I had a fill somewhere other than my doctor's office and plateaued then started gaining. A few weeks ago I found out I had a lot of inflammation and had an unfill at which time I also discovered that I'd lost saline from the cheap fill -- who knows, maybe I didn't have a real fill that whole time.

I went to another doctor who diagnosed a slip and pouch dilation. He recommends a VSG but insurance denied it. They say they don't cover VSG which I can fight because they do (Federal BCBS). And they also say my complication doesn't warrant band removal and that since I no longer am morbidly obese I don't qualify for revision (that's just stupid since I met all the qualifications and had coverage when I got the band).

I went back to the original surgeon who repeated the barium swallow and says if anything was wrong it was a very small pouch dilation which is now reverted. They gave me a very small fill with the idea that I could slowly return to restriction. I'm up about 30 pounds from my lowest weight and pretty upset about it.

At this point I could either try to make things work with the band OR move forward with a VSG revision, most likely self-pay with Dr. Aceves. But that's a lot of money and I worry that if I couldn't keep the weight off with a band I could just as easily be unsuccessful with a VSG.

I'd love some insight as to whether I ought to give the band some more time with proper physician visits, support group etc. Or if I ought to just scrap it and dig into my savings and get the VSG. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Britt

Hi Brit,

You've come on a VSG forum where several of us, Wasa, Vamp, Elisabeth, Susan etc. are revisions from the band to VSG. So, I think all of us are probably going to tell you the same thing; revise to a VSG.

I myself, feel like once you start having problems, to get another band is a waste of time. I think the research, especially after a slip, bears this out.

Ultimately, it is your decision. Do your research, talk with your physician and do what you feel in your gut is right for you. I was banded in December of 2006, and was just revised in March. I was self pay with the band, and I was self pay with the sleeve. I did not have any problems with a slip or erosion, it just was not the right surgery for me.

Still, I researched and read for almost two years before I came to the decision to revise, because I needed to be comfortable with my decision.

Keep asking questions, and good luck with whatever you decide.

[kareyquilts 1]

Brit: I am in a similar situation to you, but I have slipped twice (had it replaced once) and waiting to see if my band goes back into place. I've also lost 120 pounds, but without a fill, my appetite has really picked up. I have appreciated my band, but takes an incredible amount of dedication and determination to make it work. I know that everyone on this thread will encourage you to go for the VSG and it could very well be the way to go. I might be heading that way myself. It is a very big decision. Are you just sick and tired of trying to deal with it? The fills and the dependence on your doc's cooperation can be a real pain. Losing most of stomach could be too. Maybe you should give yourself some kind of timeline to sort it all out? If that seems too diffiuclt or you feel too fed up than maybe you are ready for the sleeve?! I wish you the best and will be following your journey!

[bambam31 168]

Hi folks,

Here's my situation. I got a band in 2006 and did great for the first 18 months - lost about 75 pounds. A year ago I had a fill somewhere other than my doctor's office and plateaued then started gaining. A few weeks ago I found out I had a lot of inflammation and had an unfill at which time I also discovered that I'd lost saline from the cheap fill -- who knows, maybe I didn't have a real fill that whole time.

I went to another doctor who diagnosed a slip and pouch dilation. He recommends a VSG but insurance denied it. They say they don't cover VSG which I can fight because they do (Federal BCBS). And they also say my complication doesn't warrant band removal and that since I no longer am morbidly obese I don't qualify for revision (that's just stupid since I met all the qualifications and had coverage when I got the band).

I went back to the original surgeon who repeated the barium swallow and says if anything was wrong it was a very small pouch dilation which is now reverted. They gave me a very small fill with the idea that I could slowly return to restriction. I'm up about 30 pounds from my lowest weight and pretty upset about it.

At this point I could either try to make things work with the band OR move forward with a VSG revision, most likely self-pay with Dr. Aceves. But that's a lot of money and I worry that if I couldn't keep the weight off with a band I could just as easily be unsuccessful with a VSG.

I'd love some insight as to whether I ought to give the band some more time with proper physician visits, support group etc. Or if I ought to just scrap it and dig into my savings and get the VSG. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Britt

This is obviously a very personal decision that everyone has to make on their own. However, I would be certain you've exhausted the band option first before charging into another WLS. If I read your post correct, the last doctor you saw stated there was no slip after all? Just a dilated pouch, which had reverted? If that's true then why not continue getting fills until you have satisfactory restriction and then see how things go?

Brad

[Jachut 487]

I agree, you dont say that you've had terrible trouble with the band just a probable pouch dilation. No reflux, slippage, undue difficulty with foods etc?

If that's the case I dont see why you wouldnt simply continue on with a conservative re-flling program to get back to good restriction and then continue on with the work of losing weight? Why would you have another surgery when nothing's really wrong? It wont be easy and if you've let your eating habits slide (which we ALL do at times and which is really hard to recover from), the sleeve wont police you any more than the band, you can eat around any surgery.

of course, if you really WANT a sleeve and no longer want a band and the added surgery doesnt phase you, then I guess there's no reason why not to either, its your choice.

[MacMadame 81]

My feeling is that you should try to avoid another surgery within reason.

If you start to get filled again and things go wrong again, then that's the time to "cry Uncle" but right now you've had one problem and haven't tried to refill. So you don't know if it's going to work or not.

[Elisabethsew 50]

Hi folks,

Here's my situation. I got a band in 2006 and did great for the first 18 months - lost about 75 pounds. A year ago I had a fill somewhere other than my doctor's office and plateaued then started gaining. A few weeks ago I found out I had a lot of inflammation and had an unfill at which time I also discovered that I'd lost saline from the cheap fill -- who knows, maybe I didn't have a real fill that whole time.

I went to another doctor who diagnosed a slip and pouch dilation. He recommends a VSG but insurance denied it. They say they don't cover VSG which I can fight because they do (Federal BCBS). And they also say my complication doesn't warrant band removal and that since I no longer am morbidly obese I don't qualify for revision (that's just stupid since I met all the qualifications and had coverage when I got the band).

I went back to the original surgeon who repeated the barium swallow and says if anything was wrong it was a very small pouch dilation which is now reverted. They gave me a very small fill with the idea that I could slowly return to restriction. I'm up about 30 pounds from my lowest weight and pretty upset about it.

At this point I could either try to make things work with the band OR move forward with a VSG revision, most likely self-pay with Dr. Aceves. But that's a lot of money and I worry that if I couldn't keep the weight off with a band I could just as easily be unsuccessful with a VSG.

I'd love some insight as to whether I ought to give the band some more time with proper physician visits, support group etc. Or if I ought to just scrap it and dig into my savings and get the VSG. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Britt

Hi Britt,

The answer to your question really depends on a few things. Have you gotten to your goal weight with the band? You state that you were banded in 2006 so I'm wondering if you achieved your goal weight. You mention your "lowest weight" but that does not mean it's your goal weight.

Are you sick of dealing with the band? For many people, dealing with fills, unfills, minor and major complications is too much and they come to a point where they don't want to deal with it anymore. Have you had any other problems besides this one? Pouch dilation usually requires 2 weeks of a liquid diet to shrink it.

Are you willing to dip into savings to be a self-pay or are you prepared to do battle with your insurance company and get them to pay for a sleeve revision? It's a lot to consider but I'm sure you've been thinking about it before posting here.

On a personal note, I had my band in the U.S. on 3/30/06 and did everything I was supposed to do but could do nothing to stop the heart burn and acid regurgitation. It got to the point where I was sleeping in a chair and taking big doses of Rx acid blockers. I DID reach the point where the quality of my life meant more to me than the band and I revised just a week ago to a VSG with Dr. Aceves. Susan revised the day after me. Like you, I had to use savings but I don't regret a thing and the care was great.

Keep us posted on what you decide.

[brittu 42]

I never did reach my goal weight (140). I got close at 165 but am already back up to 190. I'm not sure how my insurance battle will go - I think it's doubtful since they denied me for 3 reasons (band problems not life-threatening, they don't cover VSG which isn't true, and I'm not over 35 BMI any more). I'll try it but I suspect I'll just get more roadblocks.

I'm going back for another fill and band check next week and am doing one of those shake/meal programs my friend likes in the meanwhile. Figure I can keep the stresss off my band without going back to full liquids. I asked myself today if the band was working would I even want a VSG and the answer is no. I didn't even have any symptoms of the dilation or slip or whatever it was other than weight gain. I don't like having to chew to goo and can't stand the food stuck incidents. But I can control those by how I eat.

One part of me just wants to go forward and make an appointment with Dr. Aceves and just go for the VSG. I'll lose weight just from the switch alone plus a renewed focus afterward. On the other hand I worry that if I could gain so much weight back with a band maybe a sleeve isn't going to work for me either. And my local doc wants to do it in two surgeries which I definitely don't want.

I think I'll move forward with fighting the insurance company and trying to get my band working again at the same time. I'm just so depressed about gaining so much weight back. I really thought the band was the answer for me.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and suggestions.

Britt

[Elisabethsew 50]

I never did reach my goal weight (140). I got close at 165 but am already back up to 190. I'm not sure how my insurance battle will go - I think it's doubtful since they denied me for 3 reasons (band problems not life-threatening, they don't cover VSG which isn't true, and I'm not over 35 BMI any more). I'll try it but I suspect I'll just get more roadblocks.

I'm going back for another fill and band check next week and am doing one of those shake/meal programs my friend likes in the meanwhile. Figure I can keep the stresss off my band without going back to full liquids. I asked myself today if the band was working would I even want a VSG and the answer is no. I didn't even have any symptoms of the dilation or slip or whatever it was other than weight gain. I don't like having to chew to goo and can't stand the food stuck incidents. But I can control those by how I eat.

One part of me just wants to go forward and make an appointment with Dr. Aceves and just go for the VSG. I'll lose weight just from the switch alone plus a renewed focus afterward. On the other hand I worry that if I could gain so much weight back with a band maybe a sleeve isn't going to work for me either. And my local doc wants to do it in two surgeries which I definitely don't want.

I think I'll move forward with fighting the insurance company and trying to get my band working again at the same time. I'm just so depressed about gaining so much weight back. I really thought the band was the answer for me.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts and suggestions.

Britt

Keep us posted as to how the fill goes. You've really done well losing with the band and I know a 25 pound regain is a set back. Try and focus on how wel you've done so far. You've already proven your success.